Dive Sites Burma/ Myanmar, Phuket

Burma

The country of Myanmar is home to a vast number of islands, coral reefs and banks, all which lie to the north and west of Thailand.

Kawthung ( Victoria Point )

Port for departure and arrival of the Burma trips. A bustling little harbour with a rather special atmosphere. Visit the market. Try the Burmese beer and cigars . A beautiful pagoda temple and monastery on the hill can be visited just outside town. Guests can fly into Ranong via Bangkok and will be transferred from the airport to the towns’ harbour from where the crossing to Kawthung is made by local ferry. The town of Kawthung certainly has atmosphere. It seems a sort of mixture of a Colonial- and a Wild West place. You will have time for sightseeing and shopping. You should see the market and try the Burmese beer and snacks. The yacht will anchor for the night at a quiet island some distance from Kawthung. However charming Kawthung might be, quiet it is not. After your trip you will be ferried back to Ranong where a van will be waiting to bring you back to Ranong Airport or to Phuket.

Ranong

Thai border town, from here you can take a longtail ferry to Victoria Point . Rangoon is about 4 hrs by road from Phuket.

Phuket

Island in Thailand , renown for it’s resorts and beaches. Most famous is Patong with it’s legendary nightlife. As there are no direct flight connections Phuket – Ranong, this transfer is made by aircon’ed minivan. The driving time is about 4 hours through scenic landscape and there are stops for a meal and refreshments.

Mergui Archipelago

Archipelago of over 900 islands, lying on Burmese territory. Very few are inhabited. The area was until a short while ago closed off for foreigners. It now is opened to a limited no of yachts. Nature is breathtaking and so far we have probably only scratched the surface of what this part of the world has to offer. Western Rocky Island Small towering rock plus several scattered pinnacles. The main rock has a tunnel right through the island ,entry at 28m (85 ft)exit at 16m ( 50ft).The tunnel is literally covered in crayfish and there are usually some large nurse sharks piled on top of each other. The pinnacles surrounding the main rock offer good reef diving with a good chance of seeing sharks as well.

High Rock

Marine live thrives here, with dense growths of orange cup coral covering many of the deeper rocks and vertical walls. Below 21 m , huge green tubastrea coral and large black-coral bushes dominate the seascape , complemented by red harp gorgonians, pastel-green rope sponges and feather stars of most every colour. High Rock also offers a chance to encounter camouflage experts like harlequin ghost pipe fish and frogfish and sea horses.

Gorgeous Anchorage

A small beach surrounded by towering rocks and scattered rocky pinnacles. Good snorkelling. On shore there are caves, you will probably see (and hear) crab-eating maquaqes (a type of monkey), hunting their prey around sunset and sunrise.

North Twin and South Twin Islands

Those travelers who have already been on the Similan Islands in Thailand will be surprised by the resemblance. These islands are granite rocks rather than limestone, like most other islands. The resemblance continues under water, here we also find the big boulders, lots of staghorn coral ,rich soft coral as well and the fishlife is mainly reef fish. The abundance of fish is quite staggering.

Black Rock

Arguably the most spectacular dive site in the Archipelago. 16 miles from the nearest land in deep water it is an ocean site. There is an abundance of life with BIG pelagics being the order of the day. Grey reef and silvertip sharks are almost guaranteed, blacktips, hammerheads and bull sharks by no means exceptional. We have seen stingrays the size of barn doors, manta’s, devil rays and also whale sharks. Additionally the reef life is excellent as well with beautiful soft corals, gorgonian’s and plenty of reef fish. We, weather permitting, anchor overnight on this spot . Night dives here are spectacular to say the least and not for the faint hearted!

Horse Shoe Island

A lovely jungle-clad island with a spectacular anchorage. Towering cliffs and numerous caves are there to be explored.

Colona Rocks

A tiny islet, one of three . The main dive is a small cove with a tunnel which exits on the other side of the island. The cove itself is usually crammed with snappers, groupers, jacks, trevallies etc. Silvertip sharks often join the fun.

Great Swinton Island

Idyllic anchorage with a sparkling white beach . Rainforest in the background. Some rocky pinnacles 1/4 of a mile off provide good snorkeling and diving. You will find soft corals, reef fish, gorgonian’s and the odd pelagic. We have seen iguana’s here so large we first thought they were alligators. North side of the island has a large beach with a fresh water stream flowing in the sea. We often stop here for lunch.

Burma Banks

A number of shallow patches rising up from the ocean floor. None of them actually breaks the surface. They are way out of sight of land and one therefore moors in the middle of nowhere. The main attraction is the abundance of sharks, silvertips, black tips, but also bull sharks and at times hammerheads. The “reefs” themselves are not particular outstanding, but fish life is quite good.

Little Torres

A small island surrounded by deep open water, this site has a good selection of reef fish and invertebrates , along with a chance of seeing sharks and other big animals. Keep an eye towards the open water in this area, as spinner, bull and grey reef sharks sometimes patrol just off the reef.

Peacock Island

Beautiful beach, the island is forested. South tip has a good dive site, a ridge at 12m. The continuous slight current encourages the growth of soft corals which are abundant. Many reef fish, notably snappers, jacks and also smaller stuff. Good snorkeling as well.

Pu Nala

One of the few inhabited islands. There is a small monastery with one monk. When we visit we pay our respects. Neighbouring is a Sea Gypsy village, about 100 huts. This we can visit as well, it is certainly no touristy place. At low tide the people wade for shellfish, sea cucumber, prawns etc. These are traded or used for food.

Rocky Island North

Bare limestone pinnacle. One side has a wall to 45 m. Abundant soft coral. Reef life very prolific, if not in size than certainly in quantity. West side is shallower, but has large gorgonian’s Good snorkeling as well.

Freddie’s Pass

Spectacular 3 mile passage . A very narrow channel separating two islands zigzags between towering cliffs covered in rainforest. You are sure to see (and certainly hear !) a lot of wildlife.

North Sentinel

Small island, mostly barren, surrounded by some rocky islets. Large boulders are scattered on the seabed. Good for soft corals and reef life.

Stewart Island

Consists of a 200m long ridge, lies North to South, rises to about 30m (100ft) above the surface. One huge arch cuts right through the island above the surface, several smaller caves do the same below water. Best diving 12-20m, prolific reef life, soft corals, sea whips many small sharks.

Horsburgh Island

On the West side is a very large pristine beach which is cut in two by a spectacular towering cliff. As Horsburgh lies on the Western edge of the Archipelago you can watch Hollywood-like sunsets (including the Green Flash).

Mc Leod Island

Beautiful anchorage in a horse shoe shaped bay. A short walk through the rainforest brings you to the West side of the island to a perfect beach. Watch the perfect sunset. But after that you’ll have to walk back to the yacht through the forest in the dark!

Davis Island

High island covered in rainforest. Idyllic anchorage and a good beach. A short walk inland brings you to a freshwater stream cascading over the rocks and plunging into a pool you can bathe in.

Barwell Island

Pleasant anchorage a short distance from Kawthung.

Cavern Island

Spectacular scenery topside, a nice dive consisting of 5 pinnacles on the SW side.onsisting of gigantic rocks piled on top of each other. At 10-15 m depth there is a large anemone garden